Advertiser – December 1914

ROWING
HENLEY ON TORRENS
The committee arranging for the Henley-on-Torrens Regatta has issued the official programme. The gathering, which takes place on Saturday next promises to be a great success both from a rowing and a spectator point of view. There will be no fewer than 35 heats in the races, the first of which is timed for 2 o’clock. The procession of decorated boats… takes place at 3.50 and is sure to be a charming sight. At night there will be a display of illuminated boats and a Continental concert. The tea tent will be conducted by a large number of ladies in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund.
Thursday 3 December, p8 

GERMAN AUSTRALIANS
THE RACE QUESTION
SPEECH BY MR PEAKE
Pointed reference to the attitude of the community generally towards citizens of German descent and in the connection to an interesting phase of the political situation in the Murray district in view of the approaching State elections was made by the Premier (Hon A.H. Peake) at the opening of the Eudunda to Robertstown railway… First speaking on the subject of the war, the Premier said that the Empire was not only in the fight against Germany, but in it up to the last man and the last shilling (Cheers)… There was one point in connection with it to which he must refer. They had found that certain well-meaning people had been trying to make matters worse in South Australia by stirring up strife among their own people. They had 80,000 or 90,000 German citizens in the State and they had proved themselves to be industrious, hard-working citizens of whom they had always been proud…
Thursday 10 December, p6 

DOMESTIC HELP
THE EFFECTS OF THE WAR
HOUSEWIVES SEEK EMPLOYMENT
Before the war one of the principal troubles of the housewives of Adelaide was the difficulty of procuring domestic help. Even though the Government were providing assisted passages for girls, the demand was more than equal to the supply of servants, and frequently ladies who could well afford to pay to have the housework done for them had to attend to the duties themselves. Now, however, a change has come over the scene. People who previously employed three or four maids are satisfied to have, say, two, and there has been a general reduction in wages in private houses… A large number of girls previously engaged in factories and shops are seeking to enter domestic service, but most of them have not the requisite experience and knowledge of house-work. Many have secured positions, only to lose them in a short time because of incompetence. A large number of married women with children have applied … for situations because their husbands are out of work…
Friday 4 December p10

OFF TO THE ANTARCTIC
THE SHACKLETON EXPEDITION
Members of… Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition left Sydney in the Aurora on Monday.

Mr A Stephens…stated that the first work of this party would be the laying of depots for the main party and when that had been completed, attention would be devoted to the scientific side… It was possible that in Dry Valley, in the Royal Society Range, they might get gold.
Wednesday 16 December p8 

THE GREAT TRICKLE
A RIVER THAT WAS BUT IS NOT!
THE MAGIC WAND OF THE IRRIGATIONIST
‘The Great Trickle’ would be a more correct title to give the Murray to-day than the ‘Nile of Australia.’ The river that was and should be, is not, and as a consequence, enormous public and private interests are threatened.’

…I watched a horseman canter across the almost dry bed of the channel at Renmark, and saw children paddling in mid-stream, walked across the main channel myself, and then contemplated the great wealth represented in Renmark and settlements higher up and lower down, I could not help thinking what a lot of gamblers we have been… Australians in three States have gambled on a supply of water ample to meet these growing needs, and something like national disaster is imminent. I believe we shall win through, but it is going to be too close a call this time to be pleasant.
Tuesday 22 December p6 

NOTED TEMPERANCE REFORMER.
ARRIVAL OF MRS. BARTON. ADVOCATE OF PROHIBITION.
Mrs. Helen Barton, of Glasgow, the well-known temperance advocate and a prominent worker in the W.C.T.U., arrived … on Monday to conduct a mission in this State under the auspices of the W.C.T.U. in co-operation with the Early Closing of Liquor Bars League. …

I have two sons at the front, and a great deal of my time was occupied as a visitor to soldiers’, wives and in work for the Red Cross Society, but I felt that the work here was even a greater cause…The temperance cause is very dear to me, especially when in the present crisis in our national history we find that such men as Kitchener and Jellicoe have advised our defenders to be teetotal… we have legislation now that prevents the opening of public-houses in Scotland before 10 o’clock in the morning, and the closing hour is 10 p.m. During the mobilisation of troops the authorities closed the hotels at 6 o’clock, and sometimes even all day. The Government realised that it was not beneficial to the troops to have drink…
Tuesday 29 December p8

THE DYING YEAR
WAR OF THE NATIONS
DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA
POLITICAL PROGRESS ARRESTED
The year 1914 will loom large in the history of the world as a period of gigantic international strife, during which the destinies of empire trembled in the balance. In this corner of the globe it opened propitiously enough. The skies were blue and cloudless, and there were no portents to threaten the that black shadows of war and drought would fall athwart the fortunes of the State…

Thursday 31 December p10